The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-30

~ SaA ILLUS ttN
More than once during the reign of
Anne II the Georges the Newspaper
was the subject of government per-
secutlon, and it was not until the
reign OF George IN that perfect free
dom was granted the Press. DurinI
the reign &%Queen Anne the News
J pape assumed a third character, and
attained TO considerable from the
amount of excellent literary work
contributed to it, and the high orders
or talent employed in it's service.
Men of the stamp of Swirl, Deroe
Addison and Steele, wrote for lcadinr
journals, and some of the finest liter
azure IN our language first appeared
IN the Newspapers Of that day. The
IattlerS and Spectators were
oy some OF the best literary talent of
the time and a little later we see John
son himself contributing to the
Gambler" Early in this same reign
(l!o5? the first successful Daily was
esiaollshed, and the already immense
thluence or the newspapers was still
publication.
Newspapers suffered severe persecu-
non during the long reign of George
~, ana many journals were prose-
cutcu II their editors punished for
Two Tree criticism of public affairs.
ms very persecution, however
Strengthed the cause of the Press
II led to its final triumph in the
attainment OF the right to freedom of
sPecGi. lt was about this time that
the l'ress first succeeded in publishing
exports OF the proceedings of Parlia-
neiat, d measure which led to angry
finally resulted in a tacit consent
which has ever since been given. At
thls time also appeared the famous let
ters OF Junlus, which did much to-
wards removing the grievances which
Inspired them, and secured to thc
Press its privilege Of freely discussinv
all public questions. The Press has
eve since retained it's freedom and
preserved the right to watch over and
ulfect the affairs of the people.
we now, come to the rise of the
n,netican Iress. lnaugurated in this
country as early as 1904, the Newspa-
us iose &c nc great eminence until
the era of political discussion which
preceded the American Revolutiom
IL was during this convulsive neriod
which gave birth to liberty and n free
democracy that the Press. as we bnvo
IL now, was born. Previously to 17-O
there existed in this country no naxs.
paper Press properly speaking. There
were newsletters, Il host of Damnhlets
nc essays. But the Press as a voice
o. PuDlic opinion, and the tribunal be-
'ore when all questions are submitted
uiu hoI yet exist. In 1875 the total
NUMBER or papers in the colonies
amounted 10 81, all of which had a
weekly p~ulication. What a contrast
to the ten thousand now DublisheG ;n
the United States, a number almost
equal to the sum total of those nix.
llshed III all Europe! With the birth
OF liberty, rs the result of the Revolu-
ton, Democracy became an ossnreJ
Tact, and the Press became its cham
pion. The independence of the colo
Mes secured the establishment of .
Government, purely and simplv, ..of
the people, by the people and for the
people,. II the Press entered upon
It's mission of educating the people to
a Just of. their RESPONSIVENESS
ana Il illness to discharge the duties of
citizens of a free state.
Democracy was vet an exner;n,ont
and the eyes of the world were wntoh''
ing its fate in America. The vn,,nr
REPUBLIC commenced life. rs a natioS
oniy-a loose bundle of states. held to-
gether by the Articles of Confedera-
tlon, and by the common interests If
self-defence. There was no orpa n ized
government, not eve a clear concen-
ton OF what should form the frnn,e-
work OF the new constitution. Rnt
now the fress came forward, and a.-
sulnea the important role which it has
ever since played in the history of orr
INT IN the columns OF Newsno-
pels were discussed all the different
WINS o government, which seemed
ADVISABLE or adapted to the wants If
The country. 1t became the mediuun
through which was sifted the "nros;;
and "cons' of ditfeaent political theo.
RES, n thus was largely instrument
al IN shaping the form Of our govern
ment: The Press did much fowarde
orlnglhg the people into a close com
with one another. and nv
beng college of their great mindsnn
IL served as q means of educating then,
TO a JusS understanding Of the princi.
pies OF good government. For their
pehellt wrote Hamilton, Jefferson and
burr' n the period prior to the adon-
Ion on OF II present Constitution in
'o3; IS marked as the era of the most
worid IT. politlcal controversy the
"orld mas ever SEEN.
Such has ever been the ,niso;o, 10
the press in our country. Rom with
Freedom, the twin-sister Of Damooro-
c;y, n Press has eve allied itself to
the closest interests of the people. It
mas oeen the Guardian of their liber-
t,es, the protectors of their rights, and
inc promoters of their general happi-
ness ana welfare. The nature of our
Government and institutions, the spir-
It or our people, which above all cher-
ishes freedom, has contributed much
TO the growth OF the Newspaper Press.
and has maintained inviolate its rights
TO free speech and expression of opin-
ion. In this respect America has
taken the lead of the Old Country.